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Thursday, February 05, 2015

Check out this great article by Lauren of TheKnot.com -- there's nothing that I need to say in addition to it except ... have fun planning your special day and enjoy the moment!

By Lauren Kay for TheKnot.com
We
don't have a crystal ball but we do have our pulse on what's hot in the
world of weddings. From Wild West weddings on the ranch to bridal
jumpsuits and GoPro wedding videos, here's what's new for 2015. Luna Photo; Theo Milo Photography; The Nichols Photography; The Nichols Photography; Artistrie Co.; Theo Milo PhotographyWild West Weddings
Weddings
are headed west -- at least in style and design. The big theme of the
year is inspired by ranches and lots of leather accents. The details are
personal and elevated, but the party has a fun, relaxed vibe. A rustic
ranch sets the scene for details like antler motifs, distressed lounges
with cowhide rugs and wildflower bouquets. Mix in leather elements to
contrast the soft and romantic wedding details in accents like the
napkin belly band. Guests can sip on specialty craft beers or mix their
own heirloom bourbon cocktails in a copper mug. Your attire can echo the
Wild West look in a long-sleeve dress with subtle lace embellishments
and an ethereal illusion neckline. Look to designers like Reem Acra,
Maggie Sottero and Temperley London for ideas.Casey Clark Photography; Carolyn Scott Photography; onelove
photography; Brooke Schwab; Brooke Schwab; Brooke Schwab; Rebekah Murray
PhotographyMore from The Knot: Flower girl duties in detailPeace, Love and Macrame
If
your style is totally laid-back and casual, use boho-chic music
festivals, like Coachella, to inspire your wedding. Think: a backyard or
open-field setting, complete with kitschy details like striped tepees,
cocktail hour lounges and picnic-style dining. Keep the colors bright
and festive, yet earthy (try sunny yellow and teal paired with
terra-cotta). Must-have elements include hand-drawn maps with your
invitations and fun, not fussy, wording on your invites (instead of
"accept" write "you in?") to really drive home your theme. For the
fashion, a gauzy and modern take on the bell-sleeve wedding dress evokes
a '70s, Woodstock vibe. Intentionally mismatched bridesmaid dresses
will keep the look effortless and easy.Deb Shields PhotographyDrone Wedding Photos and GoPro Videos
If
you want a view of your wedding from every angle imaginable then try
this trend. Some photographers are getting in on the action by using
drones to capture aerial shots, like the view of your ceremony from
overhead and the amazing scenery. Videographers are doing it too by
bringing along GoPro cameras to the wedding in addition to their video
cameras. The cool part about these is that they can be attached to a
"selfie stick" to get ultra-creative shots of you and your guests on the
dance floor and record your guests' candid reactions as they enter the
reception.Katelyn James PhotographyBridesmaids Are Off the Hook -- There's An App for That!
You
don't need to get all of your bridesmaids together to tie bows on
wedding favors anymore. Instead, lots of couples are enlisting wedding
planning help through apps like TaskRabbit to take on any small to-dos,
TouristEye to help plan the honeymoon itinerary, and (ahem) The
Knot Wedding Planner app to find and get in touch with all of the right
wedding pros. Being a wedding guest is easier this year too. All of the
major registries make it easy to buy gifts straight from your phone,
and Uber and Lyft ensure guests don't have trouble finding a ride at the
end of the night.More from The Knot: 12 ways to ruin a weddingReadyluck; Natalie Franke Photography; Jenny DeMarco Photography; RHM PhotographyFoodie Installations
Food
and drink are taking center stage at weddings this year in an
outrageous way. We're talking hanging salad stations, doughnut dessert
walls that double as escort cards and beer-garden-inspired stations,
complete with beer steins made of ice. You could ask your caterer to
help you come up with creative ideas or follow what a few innovative
couples' lead and actually hire a food stylist to dream up something
over-the-top.Kurt Wilberding; Kurt Wilberding; Maria Valentino/MCV PhotoBridal Jumpsuits and Statement-Making Separates
This
season's runway wedding dress designs are more playful and dressed
down. Jumpsuits, separates and menswear-inspired styles, like these ones
by Houghton, Delphine Manivet and Theia are giving the traditional
bridal look a new edge that's a bit celebrity inspired. Remember Olivia
Palermo's chic shorts with a tulle overlay and Solange Knowles' several
jumpsuits? If that's too edgy, then look to the latest accessory trends,
which involve bold add-ons such as top hats, ear cuffs and lace gloves.Sergey Green PhotographyUnexpected Wedding Venues
More
couples will look to unexpected spots for their wedding venue, like
castles, private estates, museums and even caves (yep, you read that
right -- the one in Bowling Green, Kentucky, is crazy-beautiful). The
best part about a unique venue choice is you don't have to go overboard
on all the décor -- you can let the space speak for itself. Keep in mind
that if you go this way, the logistics may be trickier than they would
in a traditional wedding venue.Jeff Tisman Photography; Cyn Kain Photography; Ashley Garmon Photographers; Steve Steinhardt Photography; Abby Jiu Photography

Royal Color Palettes
Marsala,
Pantone's Color of the Year, set the tone for 2015's wedding hues. It's a
rich wine red that's sophisticated, stylish and versatile. Pair marsala
with dusty blue for a pretty, romantic feel (imagine marsala
centerpieces paired with blue velvet linens), while a rose gold and
marsala palette is rich and glamorous (think: rose gold foil font on a
marsala card stock).
Bonus: Flowers, like dahlias and peonies,
grow naturally in this hot hue, and it's a flattering color for your
bridesmaids to wear if you want to make a statement.Alea LovelyThe Third Dress
Why
have one dress when you can have three? We've heard of brides changing
their dress for the reception or late night for the after-party. Now, a
few fashion-forward brides are actually choosing three different gowns
for each part of the day. Imagine a ball gown for the ceremony, a sleek
sheath for the reception and then a short, feathery minidress for the
after-party. It sounds like a lot, but for some brides who just can't
decide, this is a fun trend to try.Shea Christine; Victor Sizemore Photography; Steve Steinhardt
Photography; KT Merry Photography; Jen Fariello Photography; Megan
Moura PhotographyA White-Glove Comeback
Casual
weddings have reigned for the past five-plus years. But we love that
some couples are taking their wedding style in the very opposite
direction with lots of opulent details, like a champagne tower,
multitier cake and dramatic entrance. If you really want to go
over-the-top, take a page from the new Cinderella movie and actually
have it in a castle (a few of our favorite castles and estates are the
Biltmore Estate, Oheka Castle and Hearst Castle). Even if your wedding
won't be in a castle, you could still add formality to it with touches
like hand-delivered invitations and valets to escort guests to their
seats at the reception. This is your chance to go all out and wear a
big, white ball gown and even a crown. Guys can get fancy too in
three-piece suits.

Monday, October 27, 2014

Sometimes it's really hard to know what to do about a loved one that isn't able to attend your wedding for various reasons. Maybe that can't make the trip due to finances, ill health, or they have passed on. This article points out some really great ways of still having that person "present" on your special day, even if they can't be there physically. Check it out!

7 Ways to Honor Missing Loved Ones at Your Wedding, Whether They've Passed Away or Just Can't Be There

Obviously you want to be surrounded by everyone you love on your wedding
day, so it sucks when that just can't happen. Here are seven ways to
honor the wedding guests who are there in spirit:Leave a "reserved" seat for missing guests.
In the photo above, there's a computer in front of a beautifully framed
photo. (I'm assuming the plan was to Skype in a grandma who couldn't
travel.) I think the substantial photo frame is key, so the photo is
heavy enough that it won't blow away pre-ceremony. If you're going to
Skype, make sure you test, test, and retest everything beforehand. It
sucks to watch a bride and groom sweat when the connection's not
working.

Give them a shout-out in the program.
Briefly mention that you're celebrating in your hearts with relatives
who can't be there. Brevity is key, though. If you write a whole page
about your late grandpa, it's just going to bring people down.

Ask your officiant to say a few words. Again, ask him to keep it short and sweet—and remember, this is a HAPPY occasion.

Display a few of their favorite things.
If the grandma in the photo above had passed away, it would be nice to
display a bouquet of her favorite flowers in lieu of the laptop. Or if
an extra-special great-aunt had a go-to snack, leave a small bowl of
gummy bears (or whatever) on the cocktail-hour tables, with a discreet
note letting people know that they were Aunt Judy's favorite.

Include them in photo displays. If you're displaying photos from your parents' weddings, go ahead and include photos from several generations.

Mention them in your speech.
If you're going to thank your guests with a speech, say a line or two
about missing loved ones, but again, keep it brief. A recently deceased
relative will already be the elephant in the room, especially if the
circumstances of the death were especially sad. There's no need to dress
the elephant in a sequined gown and shine a spotlight on him, if that
makes sense.

Make a donation in their honor.
Rather than give your guests a silly trinket as a wedding favor,
mention on the program that in lieu of favors, a donation is being in
honor of Grandma Lynn to the American Cancer Society. Again, I'd keep
the note discreet. I once went to a wedding where there was a
paragraph-long note on every place setting explaining that a donation
had been made in honor of a bridesmaid's baby who had passed away. Of
course, it's amazing that the bride and groom made the donation, but
when the guests were feeling super-celebratory after the ceremony,
having a tearjerker note at every seat definitely brought everyone down.

WPA Pool/Getty Images News/Getty Images
Last
year, TheKnot.com (part of XO Group Inc.) surveyed approximately 13,000
American brides and grooms who were married in 2013. The results,
compiled into their Real Weddings Study, revealed some staggering figures.

Did you know, for example, that the average cost of a wedding
nowadays is nearly $30,000? (And that doesn’t even include the
honeymoon.) Invitations alone can run around $500. And the cake? That’ll
be another $500. On average, flowers and decorations amount to over
$2,000. Same goes for the band and also for the photographer.

Here’s another one: The average amount of money that a bride spends
on her wedding dress is $1,281. That’s a slight increase from 2012’s
average of $1,211 and definitely more than what most of us are paying in
rent.

What these numbers from The Knot’s survey tell us is that weddings are not cheap, so if you’re invited to one, you should put in some effort, too. That not only means RSVPing on time, sending a gift from the registry,
and trying not to get too wasted at the open bar, but also showing up
dressed appropriately — no matter how many eligible single folks are
alleged to be there.
Since we’re in the thick of wedding season, how about a quick refresher on wedding dress code etiquette? I reached out to our friends at The Knot for their expert advice and here’s what some of their editorial staff had to say on the subject:

1. There Should Only Be One White Dress In The Room

If there’s one thing to take away from how not to dress at a
wedding, it’s that wearing white (or ivory or champagne, for that
matter) is a big no-no. While not all brides are wearing white these
days, it’s better to be safe than sorry. “Don’t take any chances wearing
a white dress (no matter how casual it is), unless the bride
specifically asks guests to wear white,” says Ivy Jacobson, an assistant
editor at TheKnot.com. “Save it for another fabulous summer party!”

2. Remember The Rule of One

Showing too much skin is another faux pas at weddings. Despite how
awesome you look and however many hours you’ve spent toning and tanning,
the bride is going to want all eyes on her. That being said, it’s OK to
accentuate your favorite asset. “[Your outfit] can have one sexy
element like a plunging neckline, short hemline, cut out, low back, or a
body con fit, but no more than one,” says Simone Hill, TheKnot.com’s
assistant editor. “It’s a different story if you’re hitting the club,
but a wedding is not the club no matter how low you’re planning to get
on the dance floor.”

3. Accessorize Appropriately

“Cleavage is not an accessory,” says Rebecca Dolgin, The Knot’s Editor-In-Chief. Let’s leave it at that.

4. Read The Invitation

You’ve marked the date on your calendar, booked a room at the
recommended hotel, and made your travel plans, but did you notice where
the wedding is going to be? I’m not talking about the city, but the
actual venue. Paying attention to these details should hopefully answer
any questions about what you should wear. “Look to the invitation for
clues like ‘semi-formal,’ ‘beach chic,’ or ‘black tie,’ but read between
the lines,” says Lauren Kay, The Knot’s style editor. “If the ceremony
is at a church, you’ll need a pashmina to tone down your barely-there
backless dress. If you’re still stumped, ask yourself this: If you met
anyone tonight—your grandmother’s second cousin, the man of your dreams,
a future employer—would you want to be wearing that dress?” I think the
last part of this tip is good advice whether you’re at a wedding or
not. It’s a small world, after all.

5. Be Color Conscious

This next tip, also from Hill, is one that I’m sure most of us have
never thought about, but it’s something to be aware of nonetheless. “As
far as color goes I actually try to avoid any solid color dresses in
popular bridesmaid dress colors like coral, purple, navy, and gray for
fear that I’ll accidentally match the bridesmaids and then everyone will
ask if I’m in the bridal party
when I’m not,” she says. “This one is a little overly paranoid, but I
really like prints and bizarre colors anyway so it doesn’t limit me too
much.” It could be hard to avoid matching the bridesmaids if you don’t
have intel on their dresses before the wedding, but Hill suggests that
“another way to avoid this is to add a belt or crop jacket to a dress so
that it doesn’t look bridesmaid-y if you’re not in the bridal party.”

6. Better To Be Over-Dressed Than Under

There’ll be plenty of opportunities to wear flip flops and cutoffs
this summer, but a wedding is not one of them. “If the invite wording
says the dress code is ‘casual,’ that still means absolutely no jeans,
shorts, or tank tops,” says Samantha Roberts, TheKnot.com’s assistant
editor. “Think a summer sundress or a pair of nice pants and blouse!”

7. Don’t Steal The Show

This next tip comes from Jamie Miles, TheKnot.com’s assistant
managing editor. She emphasizes some of the earlier points and reminds
us that there are going to be a ton of pictures taken during the night —
either by a professional photographer or via guests’ smartphones — so
it’s important to dress appropriately. Let the bride stand out in her wedding photos.
“If you’re attending a black-tie wedding, it’s particularly important
to go long and whatever you do, don’t wear a super short, leggy cocktail
dress,” she says. “You don’t want to steal attention from the bride, or
show too much skin in the formal photos.”

8. Have Confidence In Yourself

It’s not your day, but that’s no reason not to be yourself. If you
try to stick to some of the guidelines above then you should be all set.
Hill offers one last piece of advice: “It’s really a balancing act of
being yourself and looking and feeling confident while not terribly
offending anyone.”

Friday, May 16, 2014

The trend for 2014 Summer Weddings seems
to be very soft light pastel colors; the most popular being the light pink,
gray, and green or mint. Brides should
keep it simple and allow the romance to speak for itself. These colors really resemble a fairy tale
environment, and bring a calm and pleasant feel to the wedding. It’s all about romance this season, and what
better to accentuate a majority of outdoor weddings then soft floral
colors. Rather than bold colors, couples
should focus on embellishments for their weddings and details in order to
really dazzle.

2.The Details

Sparkle and
shine will take your summer wedding to the next level this season! Pearls,
sequins, and rhinestones are a huge trend this
summer. Everything from embellishing
wedding dresses, to sequined bridesmaids, to my personal preference, adding
details to decorations. The soft gold
and sparkles continue to add to the romantic fairy tale feel, and allow the
bride to literally sparkle. Whether it
is a daytime or nighttime wedding, this attention to detail will emphasize
various pieces of jewelry and will add that extra twinkle to the occasion.

3.The Bride

Popular dress trends for 2014 summer
weddings really depend on the location for the wedding, but a lot of prominent
designers recommend romantic flowy dresses that make it easy to add
embellishments. Another idea that adds individuality and
creativity for this summer’s brides is not sticking to a white wedding
dresses. Many designers have been adding
cream colored and ivory dresses to their collections. Bows have also been a reoccuring trend this
season, it really accentuates the details on the dresses and ties in the color
schemes nicely. If a bride is looking
for a more ballgown wedding dress for their summer wedding, they should focus
on lace and toole, another popular choice from the runway.

4.The Groom

Tan suits are the theme for the groom’s
attire this season! Keeping with the
light fairy tale look, tan or cream colored suits and tuxedos keep with the
fresh summer theme. It is a great way to
keep the wedding classy while not going overboard. If the bride decides to go with a cream or
more ivory wedding dress, another reoccurring trend for this summer’s weddings
is a crisp tuxedo with a bowtie. In this
case the groom will want to wear a darker suit with the lighter pastel color
flowers to tie in the theme.

5.My Recommendations

My final thoughts to blow your
guests out of the water and make your day perfect are to keep it simple and
clean, and take the time to focus on the small aspects. At the end of the day everyone will be there
to support the couple, and with the right service and DJ, nothing will go
wrong!

Don’t forget, if you are still looking for the perfect wedding
officiant for your summer wedding, don’t hesitate to call Rev. Dr. Angela (562)209-2083,
or email her at wedding@blessings-all-around.com

Monday, January 13, 2014

Have you warmed up to the idea of incorporating Pantone’s Radiant Orchid
{aka “Color of the Year”} into your 2014 wedding? I have to admit, this
pretty purple is really starting to grow on me. Kind of like the super hero of hues, Radiant Orchid
is warm and cool at the same time; plus, it looks great on most skin
tones, hair and eyes! It feels fresh, modern and fun–especially in a
gradient like this *adorable* bride’s ombre’ wedding dress and the Watercolor OmbreWedding Invitation shown
below. It’s a flexible color too… Keep a sassy {yet sophisticated}
monochromatic look with a variety of purple tints, or go straight to the
other side of the color wheel and contrast Radiant Orchid with an equally lively green. Any way you look at it, Radiant Orchid is a charming choice for 2014.

Tell us, what do you think about this high-spirited purple?
- See more at: http://www.magnetstreet.com/wedding-blog/radiant-orchid-wedding-inspiration#sthash.NZy6qVxW.dpuf